UNDERATED ARTIST OF THE MONTH: GALLANT

Alt-R&B Singer Gallant HAS OUR ATTENTION

Our UNDERATED artist of the month is rising alt-R&B star Gallant and here is why.

Full Name: Christoper Gallant From: Columbia, Md. Age: 23

Backstory: The rising singer-songwriter began recording songs in middle school to resolve his teen emotions, he states, "It started to be a cathartic thing," , "the same way that you would write something in your diary."

Big Break: After graduating from New York University, he moved to Los Angeles and was discovered by manager Jake Udell, he stated that he was driven to tears by Gallant's soaring falsetto, sleek hooks and deep songwriting, which draw upon diverse influences from Babyface to Incubus.

Live: He stated that his live shows are more like a meditation. Gallant's high-energy, sold-out showcase at Los Angeles' Bardot last year brought in big names like Skrillex and producer Emile Haynie. "An emotional apex -- that's what I want it to feel like."

Next for Gallant: After releasing dreamy singles such as "Open Up" and a fluttering cover of Foo Fighters' "Learn to Fly", Gallant is busy creating a longer body of work that can better capture his onstage ferocity. "I want to get as close to that as possible," he says. "I'll be recording in a box, screaming at the top of my lungs."

Latest Release: Gallant and Jhené Aiko created a reflective soulful collaboration here with “Skipping Stones.” Over a gentle, hypnotic beat, co-produced by Adrian Younge and Stint, the Red Bull Sound Select artist flexes his falsetto, while Jhené harmonizes about lessons learned, bridges burned, and what they might be missing.